The Self-cultivation of a Salted Fish Concubine

The next morning, Xie Run didn't get up again.

When she woke up, King Jing had already gone to the grand court meeting.

She lazily finished her meal and was thinking about practicing calligraphy to pass the time.

Xiao Shu hurried in, "Master, I'm afraid something has happened."

Xie Run put down the ink stick in his hand and asked in confusion: "What happened?"

She remembered that Xiao Shu asked for leave today, saying that she wanted to go back to her home to get some things, so she shouldn't be in Linxuan Pavilion now.

Xiao Shu's forehead was covered in sweat, as if she had been running all the way here. "This servant girl works in the main kitchen. Today, the princess suddenly called everyone in the kitchen to the main courtyard. She said that Concubine An suddenly said that she had eaten something wrong and had a stomachache. She called the palace doctor and found that she was pregnant."

Before Xie Run could say anything, Yu Li couldn't help but scream, "Is Concubine An pregnant?!"

After shouting, seeing that everyone was looking at her, Yuli quickly explained: "This servant was just surprised. She just served the prince once, and she got pregnant..."

Xie Run glanced at her and said lightly: "You remember it clearly."

Yuli's face turned pale, "Master, I am not..."

Xie Run sighed, "Be quiet first, I want to listen to Xiao Shu."

Yuli retreated with grievance: "Yes."

Xie Runcai asked, "How is Sister An?"

Xiao Shu shook her head: "I don't know. When my mother was called away, she told me to tell the master the news as soon as possible so that we could take precautions early to avoid being implicated."

"The princess never likes to make a big fuss. Sister An might have an upset stomach or... be poisoned."

Xie Run took Xiao Shu's hand and patted it twice. "Thanks to you for the news. You are fine. I will remember this kindness."

Xiao Shu lowered her head and said, "This is what a servant should do."

Xie Run said, "Go call your sister Dan Tao and ask her to take people to guard the gate tightly. Don't let anyone come in or out as they please. I'll reward you later."

"Yes."

Xiao Shu bowed and hurried off to do his work.

Xie Run was actually not very worried.

Not long ago, she had someone search Linxuan Pavilion and found nothing suspicious.

Moreover, she has been doing her job well recently and has not even left the courtyard. The poisoning of Concubine An cannot be linked to her in any way.

Xiao Shu's mother asked her to deliver the message, probably to curry favor.

If it really has something to do with her, I'm afraid the news won't get through.

Xie Run calmed down and continued practicing calligraphy.

In the afternoon, Mother Li, who was by the princess's side, came over with two maids.

Mother Li said with a smile, "We got a few baskets of hairy crabs today. Princess, please share them with the masters so that they can have a taste."

Xie Run smiled and said, "The princess is kind-hearted. Meeting such a good mistress is truly a blessing for us servants."

Seeing Xie Run praising her own master, Mother Li was also happy.

Xie Run said, "It's still early, Mom, why don't you have a cup of tea and rest here with me?"

Mother Li smiled and declined, "How can I be so embarrassed?"

As for refusing, it's just a matter of pulling and tugging, and in the end you still can't escape the result of drinking tea.

If we say we are drinking tea, we must have some melon seeds, fruits and vegetables, and chat about gossip.

The maids around the princess usually eat and use high-quality food and supplies, and they would probably look down on anything slightly inferior.

Xie Run asked someone to set up a small table next to the couch.

Mother Li sat aside drinking tea and eating melon seeds.

Xie Run leaned on the couch, his face young and charming, revealing a bit of innocence and cleverness that came from being ignorant of the world.

Mother Li has been an old woman with decades of experience, and she understands why the prince has been doting on the new concubine Xie recently.

Quiet and steady yet agile, cute and charming yet not noisy or annoying.

If she were a man, she would also love such a woman.

Xie Run relied on his young face and shamelessly pretended to be innocent.

"Mother Li, I heard Sister An is pregnant? Is there going to be another happy event in the courtyard soon?"

When Mother Li heard this while cracking melon seeds, she smiled rather mysteriously: "That's indeed the case."

Xie Run leaned forward, frowning slightly, as if to say, "Mother Li, I heard that Sister An ate something bad. She's pregnant now, is she okay?"

Mother Li smiled and shook her head, "I only dare to say this to you, Master Xie."

Xie Run chuckled in response, but thought to himself that there might be more to it than that.

It was estimated that the matter was over, and the princess had specifically asked these people to spread the news.

She still pretended to be curious.

Madam Li said, "Master An was harmed. Someone knew she was pregnant and put something cold in her food. Fortunately, Master An had a poor appetite, so she ate a little."

"But even so, I still had spotting. I'll probably have to stay in bed for a few months to protect the pregnancy."

Xie Run covered his mouth, looking surprised. "Who is so vicious as to want to harm the prince's child?"

Mother Li glanced southeast. "The maid who poisoned the woman insisted that it was Zhenzhu from Lanxiang Court who ordered her to do it. Unfortunately, there's no evidence, so there's no way to investigate further."

Lanxiangyuan, that’s Concubine Ning.

After saying this, Mother Li sighed, "I don't know which damned person dared to lay hands on the prince's offspring and bring trouble to our princess for no reason."

"Forget it, forget it. I won't say any more." Mother Li quickly stood up. "Look at this old slave's mouth! If the princess knew that I was talking nonsense everywhere, she would definitely not let me off easily."

Xie Run quickly said, "Don't worry, Mom. Everyone is just listening to what happened today and not taking it to heart."

"Yuli, come and see Mom off. And grab a handful of melon seeds for Mama Li."

These melon seeds refer to silver melon seeds, each one is half the size of a fingernail.

Xie Run had just asked someone to make it a few days ago, just to reward him.

Yuli: "Yes."

After seeing Madam Li off, Dan Tao spoke up, "Master, Madam Li is saying that Concubine Ning harmed Concubine An? That's true. The eldest son is the only male heir in the mansion right now. If Concubine An also gave birth to a son, it would be natural for Concubine Ning to be anxious."

Xie Run glanced at Dan Tao, leaned back, and chuckled, "Do you think Mother Li really came here to chat today?"

Dan Tao paused, "I don't think so."

"Mother Li said that the maid who drugged me bit the pearl from Lanxiang Garden, but unfortunately there is no evidence. But things in the backyard don't necessarily require evidence. It all depends on whether the prince believes it or not."

"Mother Li went out today under the pretext of delivering crabs. She was afraid that the news that Concubine Ning was plotting to murder the prince's offspring would spread all over the courtyard. However, it was just a rumor, and Concubine Ning couldn't explain it."

Xie Run sighed, "The prince's backyard... it really never stops for a moment."

As to whether it was Concubine Ning who did it, Xie Run couldn't find out.

Suddenly, Xie Run thought of what King Jing said in her ear last night.

Could it be that King Jing had already anticipated the unrest in the backyard?

Xie Run's head ached from all the guessing. She raised her hand to rub her temple and said to Dan Tao, "From now on, the searches will be conducted every seven days, not once a month."

If you can't figure it out, you can only take precautions in advance.

Dan Tao was slightly stunned, "Isn't the master being too cautious?"

Xie Run nodded seriously: "I can't help it, I'm afraid of death."

Dan Tao smiled helplessly.

Xie Run waved his hand and said, "Never mind. The princess sent me crabs today, I'm in for a treat."

In modern times, Xie Run was weak and could not touch cold things like crabs.

Now that I have a healthy body, shouldn’t I take the opportunity to enjoy it?

At dinner time, Yuli and Yueyaer brought back crabs from the kitchen.

It also brought big news.

Concubine Yun is also pregnant, and it has been two months.